He is great outside the pocket so you think the PLAN is to keep him in the pocket? Why would you want to keep him in the pocket when he's so great outside the pocket? I can assure you Garrett doesn't enter a game with a PLAN to keep Romo in the pocket all day. He knows the skill set and instincts Romo has and allows him to improvise. Romo wouldn't be the QB he is if he were limited to being a pocket passer. It's the opponents plan to keep Romo in the pocket by pressuring him up the middle. They know once he gets outside he'll make a play. Anytime you're trying to defense a playmaker like Romo the plan is to try and keep them from extending plays. Most of Romo's plays come from outside the pocket.

Some of the worst games Romo has had is when he's gotten pressure up the middle and hasn't been able to get outside. He gets hemmed in and goes down or tries to force a throw. When he's able to get outside it gives him the freedom to slip and spin away from defenders allowing receivers to get open. Romo routinely will make a defender miss giving him time to set his feet and throw.

His protection has been good but most of his plays are still coming from outside the pocket. His passer ratings are what they are because of his ability to make plays outside the pocket. The better protection hasn't kept him from wanting to improvise. Improvising is a huge part of his game. Even when he's had time he doesn't always see a receiver open so to avoid being hemmed in he'll move outside. His instincts are so good he can stay alive while his receivers have time to work their way open.

Let me make it clear no one is saying he doesn't throw TD's from within the pocket but most of his "plays" come from outside the pocket. Sometimes he'll throw TD's within the pocket after first moving outside the pocket. He occasionally moves outside the pocket then moves back in. He dances around a lot trying to keep a play alive. A lot of the plays he creates that aren't TD's are from outside the pocket.

He doesn't always stay there when he has a pocket if he doesn't see a receiver open he'll move outside the pocket to give himself more time to survey. Watch the games! Over his "career" most of his plays have come outside the pocket. That's my point.

Knowing Garrett, I would say that it is a rare play to get Tony out of the pocket - really rare. He is one of the most conventional OC's in the league.

Romo on the other hand, if he knows his protection is weak for the day is ready at the drop of the hat to get outside the pocket where he knows he will have a bit of time to make a play.

I'm pretty sure had the Cowboys lost Philly would have won the division and the Cowboys would have gotten the wildcard and had to travel to Philly the next week. So yes the game was to take the division but it wasn't a "must" win or stay home for the Cowboys.

Knowing Garrett, I would say that it is a rare play to get Tony out of the pocket - really rare. He is one of the most conventional OC's in the league.

Romo on the other hand, if he knows his protection is weak for the day is ready at the drop of the hat to get outside the pocket where he knows he will have a bit of time to make a play.

Romo moves outside the pocket routinely so it's not something that's happening out of Garrett's control. Like I keep telling you and Romo's highlights back it up most of his plays come from outside the pocket. This is when he's at his best and Garrett's even commented on it. Romo is allowed to do what he's comfortable with. Avoiding pressure and extending plays is what he does best. Landry use to hate Staubach taking off and running but that was part of what made Staubach great so he allowed him do it. It came natural to Staubach.

Romo is one of the best QB's in the league when he's moving around making plays. Like I mentioned some of his worst plays have come within the pocket. A lot of his fumbles have come within the pocket. He's a QB who needs space to maneuver and when he's able to do get outside he's very effective. He'll roll around, spin and find an open receiver. I feel a lot more comfortable with him when he's outside the pocket doing his thing then within the pocket surrounded by defenders.

He's not real tall so getting outside gives him a lot of options to either set his feet and throw or spin around and move in another direction to find a receiver. It opens up the field for him. You never want to restrict a QB's improvisational skills Romo wouldn't be half the player if Garrett did.

I looked at the teams that produced those records, counting the number of players who had been to a minimum of 5 Pro Bowls with at least one 1st team AP All-Pro selection. (In the case of one player replacing another, both players had to have a minimum of 3 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro).